Christene Volkspartij
Encyclopedia
The Christene Volkspartij (E: Christian People Party) was the first Belgian
Christian democratic
political party
. The party was founded in 1891 by the Belgian
priest Adolf Daens
, who was inspired by the papal encyclical
Rerum Novarum
of Pope Leo XIII
.
who called themselve Roelanders: Vanlangenhaeke, Van de Velde, De Backer, Lambrecht, Sterck, De Pelsmaecker and Pieter Daens from Aalst
(brother of Adolf Daens), was organized on 15 April 1893 at Okegem
. In July 1893 the party program, which was in the mean time drafted by Adolf Daens, was approved.
Adolf Daens founded the party as an alternative for socialism
and the conservative Catholic Party
. He emphasized the social problems of the time and linked them to the need for social facilities and also a Flemish political programme, aimed at creating a favorable political climate in Flanders
.
His political movement had significant success in the region of Aalst
, but was opposed by the (Catholic) elite
, and by the Roman Catholic Church
. In spite of all opposition the Christelijke Volkspartij succeeded to gain seats in the Belgian parliament. Priest Daens got especially into conflict with the conservative Catholic leader Charles Woeste
and tried to get support of the Socialists. During the municipality Council elections of 1899 the Daensists even cooperated with the Socialists in Brussels
. In the same year Adolf Daens was removed from his office as a priest. When the Christelijke Volkspartij started to grow and threatened the political power of the Socialists, they abandoned further cooperation.
After his political career, Daens lived in Aalst where he remained leader of the movement until his death in June 1907. Daensism had a permanent influence in the arrondissment Aalst and created the foundations of Christian democracy
in Belgium.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Christian democratic
Christian Democracy
Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
. The party was founded in 1891 by the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
priest Adolf Daens
Adolf Daens
Adolf Daens was a Flemish priest from Aalst. Daens was a Jesuit from 1859 to 1871 but is especially known for his socio-political involvement after he joined the diocesan clergy. He created the Daensist movement from which originated in 1893 the Christene Volkspartij inspired by Leo XIII's...
, who was inspired by the papal encyclical
Encyclical
An encyclical was originally a circular letter sent to all the churches of a particular area in the ancient Catholic Church. At that time, the word could be used for a letter sent out by any bishop...
Rerum Novarum
Rerum Novarum
Rerum Novarum is an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII on May 15, 1891. It was an open letter, passed to all Catholic bishops, that addressed the condition of the working classes. The encyclical is entitled: “Rights and Duties of Capital and Labour”...
of Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
.
History
The first meeting of the founders, Christian democrats form the region of NinoveNinove
Ninove is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. It is situated on the river Dender...
who called themselve Roelanders: Vanlangenhaeke, Van de Velde, De Backer, Lambrecht, Sterck, De Pelsmaecker and Pieter Daens from Aalst
Aalst, Belgium
Aalst is a city and municipality on the Dender River, 19 miles northwest from Brussels. It is located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Aalst itself and the villages of Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade,...
(brother of Adolf Daens), was organized on 15 April 1893 at Okegem
Ninove
Ninove is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. It is situated on the river Dender...
. In July 1893 the party program, which was in the mean time drafted by Adolf Daens, was approved.
Adolf Daens founded the party as an alternative for socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and the conservative Catholic Party
Catholic Party (Belgium)
The first Catholic Party in Belgium was established in 1869 as the Confessional Catholic Party .-History:In 1852 a Union Constitutionelle et Conservatrice was founded in Ghent, in Leuven , and in Antwerp and Brussels in 1858, which were active only during elections...
. He emphasized the social problems of the time and linked them to the need for social facilities and also a Flemish political programme, aimed at creating a favorable political climate in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
.
His political movement had significant success in the region of Aalst
Aalst, Belgium
Aalst is a city and municipality on the Dender River, 19 miles northwest from Brussels. It is located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Aalst itself and the villages of Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade,...
, but was opposed by the (Catholic) elite
Elite
Elite refers to an exceptional or privileged group that wields considerable power within its sphere of influence...
, and by the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. In spite of all opposition the Christelijke Volkspartij succeeded to gain seats in the Belgian parliament. Priest Daens got especially into conflict with the conservative Catholic leader Charles Woeste
Charles Woeste
Charles, Count Woeste was a Belgian Roman Catholic politician of German descent.He was born in Brussels, the son of Edouard Woeste, who was of Prussian descent and who became a naturalized Belgian on 15 January 1841. Edouard Woeste was consul for Prussia from 1843 to 1853, and married Constance...
and tried to get support of the Socialists. During the municipality Council elections of 1899 the Daensists even cooperated with the Socialists in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. In the same year Adolf Daens was removed from his office as a priest. When the Christelijke Volkspartij started to grow and threatened the political power of the Socialists, they abandoned further cooperation.
After his political career, Daens lived in Aalst where he remained leader of the movement until his death in June 1907. Daensism had a permanent influence in the arrondissment Aalst and created the foundations of Christian democracy
Christian Democracy
Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching...
in Belgium.
See also
- Politics of BelgiumPolitics of BelgiumPolitics of Belgium takes place in a framework of a federal, parliamentary, representative democratic, constitutional monarchy, whereby the King of the Belgians is the Head of State and the Prime Minister of Belgium is the head of government in a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by...
- PSC-CVPChristian Social Party (Belgium, defunct)The Christian Social Party was a Belgian Catholic political party, which existed from 1945 until 1968.-History:At the end of World War II, on 18–19 August 1945 the Christelijke Volkspartij-Parti Social Chrétien was founded under the presidency of August de Schryver as the successor to the...
- Graves de Communi ReGraves de Communi ReGraves de Communi Re was an encyclical written by Pope Leo XIII in 1901, on Christian Democracy. It is part of a larger body of writings known as Catholic social teaching, that trace their origin to Rerum Novarum which was issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891...
- Belgian Labour PartyBelgian Labour PartyThe Belgian Labour Party, called Belgische Werkliedenpartij in Dutch and Parti Ouvrier Belge in French, was the first socialist party in Belgium, founded in 1885.-History:...
Source
- Elias MR DR H.J. Priester Daens en de christene volkspartij, 1893–1907, Aalst, Dietschland S.V. 1940.
- Th. Luykx and M. Platel, Politieke geschiedenis van België, 2 vol., Kluwer, 1985
- E. Witte, J. Craeybeckx en A. Meynen, Politieke geschiedenis van België, Standaard, 1997
- Priester Daensfonds